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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

A CN freight train derailing and catching fire in the northwestern part of the province.

The train jumping the tracks about five kilometres outside the village of Plaster Rock in the community of Wapske just after 7pm. According to reports, the train was carrying propane and crude oil. One witness describes seeing two huge fireballs. While nearby homes were evacuated, there were no reported injuries.Emergency crews planning on letting the fire burn itself out. A team of eight disaster volunteers with the Red Cross arriving in Plaster Rock from Fredericton to help local authorities with a reception centre and shelter if needed for any evacuees. A shelter opening at the Tobique Plex recreation and community centre at 159 Main Street.

While you might be excited about that new gadget you just bought or that trip down south you're planning to escape the cold, you shouldn't be sharing that information on social media.

That's according to Sergeant Jay Henderson of the City Police, who has some tips for the public on how to keep yourself safe on the internet. He says posting purchases and travel information on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms can make you a target for theft and break and enters. Henderson says don't post your birthday, address or any other personal information that could make you vulnerable to identity theft. He also suggests customizing your security settings.

With Common Council voting to get more information about the possibility of the RCMP taking over policing in Saint John, Mayor Mel Norton tells CHSJ News it's simply a matter of getting more of the facts--which is never a bad thing.

The Mayor says contrary to what Police Association President Jamie Hachey says, the mayor's vote does not interfering with the bargaining process: council is still the funder of the police commission, and the mayor is required by legislation to sit on the commission.

City Police are looking for two men who crashed a car into a home on Millidge Avenue then fled the scene on foot.

Sergeant Jay Henderson says it happened on Sunday afternoon and the suspects took off running heading towards Charlton Place. Both the home and the white Chevrolet Impala both sustaining some major damage. Henderson says the car is being impounded and will be forensically processed.

The first man, who police believe was the driver, is described as being white, skinny, in his twenties, between 5'6 and 5'9, and was wearing a blue ball hat and grey sweater. The passenger is described as being stocky, of mixed race (black and white), with short dark hair, about 5'11 to 6'0, and was wearing jeans and a blue sweater. Police urging anyone with any information to call 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Standing room only at Common Council, with people pouring in to hear which way Councillors would vote on a request for a report on how much it would cost for the RCMP to police the city.

Councillor Shirley McAlary raising concerns about running into legal trouble since both the Mayor and Councillor Greg Norton sit on the Police Commission. She says the city could be penalized by the Labour Board and she does not want to be involved in a lawsuit.

Mayor Mel Norton casting the tie-breaking vote in favour of getting a cost comparison between the RCMP and city police. With contract negotiations currently underway, Saint John Police Association President Jamie Hachey tells CHSJ News if this continues they will be going straight to the Labour Board. He says they will not be browbeat into a labour settlement.